The 2025 winter wheat harvest in the Golden Belt area has been a large case of “hurry up and wait,” as producers attempt to get back into their fields after weeks of rain.
Most farmers looked to an early June start, ahead of an expected beginning around June 9-10; some already have loads to the elevator, but getting to that last 30 acres or so has been a challenge. Back in May, Stafford county farmer John Hildebrand boasted to those touring the state for the Wheat Quality Council’s annual tour that his stand was “the prettiest wheat he’d seen in a couple of years,” thanks to late-spring moisture.
But as the moisture kept on coming, farmers are battling wheat streak and mold in still-uncut fields, as well as empty wheat heads from bouts of high wind in recent days. Chrissy Green is worried that the standing water in their fields near St. John in Stafford County will lead to mold taking the crop; their custom cutters are hopeful they can get to the last bit of acreage in the next few days.
Farther north, wheat harvest officially started June 16 in Pawnee County, but were about 40% done earlier this week. To the east, farmers cast wary glances to the skies while taking to their combines, but intermittent heavy rain showers have slowed progress.
The fourth report on the harvest statewide by the Kansas Wheat Commission shows activity in all but the top-tier counties. Ellis County reported a tale of two wheat crops basked on moisture received. Ellis County got started on June 12, but the Golden Belt Coop Association reported receiving about 100,000 bushels putting harvest at 10 to 15 percent complete. Farmers are putting finishing touches on planting their fall milo crop waiting for late fields to mature.
The numbers, however, are mostly good by all accounts, with yields at around 61-62 pounds per bushel and 11.8% moisture; the low end is at around 30 bpa, with some hitting 40 to 50.
Out west, two intense hailstorms mowed down stands near Bucklin and Spearville. The storms came almost to the day as a 2020 Father’s Day hailstorm that broke windows at the co-op’s Bellefont location. Normally, Bellefont typically takes in between 750,000 to 900,000 bushels — but with the drought, the hailstorms and some freeze damage, that number has fallen to between 120,000 and 150,000 bushels before an expected July 1 wrap-up.
Officially, as of the middle of this week, harvest statewide is about 28% complete. That’s better than last year’s 6% and the average of 8%. Conditions reported by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service were rated at about 25% poor, with 39% good to excellent.
